boat safe

As a veteran helicopter rescue swimmer and now a marine safety specialist for the United States Coast Guard, I’ve seen a lot of boating trips gone wrong. Accidents are accidents, but after twelve years on the job, I’ve noticed that most of the emergencies we respond to are easy to avoid. With a little additional planning and preparation, you can dramatically decrease your chances of ever having to call for help. Consider the following before your next trip and we’ll probably never meet. Remember where you’re going: Remember that “offshore” means “isolated in a hostile environment.” Keeping that in mind changes the way you think about everything else. Your passengers: Do they have any medical conditions? Are they adequate swimmers? What is their boating experience? The answers make a big difference, but you have to ask the questions first. Life-saving drugs like asthma, heart, allergy meds, and insulin come along for the ride, or those who need them don’t. Period. […]